Author Topic: Hello Guys  (Read 8192 times)

Offline John-Som

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Hello Guys
« on: December 30, 2008, 05:54:38 PM »
After lurking in the wings I thought maybe it was time I showed my face.  Known to some as Bog’s apprentice and to others as John S I’d just like to say hello to all you guys.  I am assured by both Bogs and Ralph that this is a good place to hang out and a site where the natives are definitely friendly. I am a bit of a late starter to the world of model engineering but thanks to Bogs have had an accelerated learning curve which has given me the enormous satisfaction of making little engines that actually work.

John S
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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2008, 06:01:47 PM »
Hey John,

Welcome to our little corner of the interwebs. Bogs is a good mentor, wish I lived closer!

Anyway, feel free to post away!

Eric
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Offline Mustang

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2008, 06:31:58 PM »
Welcome JohnS.

You are in good hands with Bogs :clap:

Andy

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2008, 07:07:12 PM »
Hi John,

I didn't want to tell you about this safe haven, I wanted you to find it all by yourself. I wondered how long it would take you. I suppose Ralph pointed you in the general direction.

But I would just like to say that John still thinks he is a beginner, but is far from it.

I cannot describe my feelings to see just how well John has progressed in the two years we have been communicating by email. From basically a beginner who only knew the parts of the lathe by reading the manual, to someone who can redesign a plan completely, and get the engine to work (A 5 cylinder Liney Halo to a 3 cylinder one). A great feat on your part John, coupled with a lot of hard work to learn a new skill, and really master it.

I have now forgotten the number of emails, but John reminded me a couple of weeks ago that I still owe him a few.

A big welcome John.

John

Offline Bernd

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2008, 09:47:22 PM »
I always seem late to the party. I went to The Tuesday Night train meet and I come back we've got a new memeber.

Well anyway a big MadModder welcome to you John S. I think you'll have fun here.

How about some pics of those engines in the Gallery? If Bogs is impressed with your work then you will have to show it or we are going to keep  :poke: until you do.  :)

Bernd
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Offline John-Som

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2008, 05:46:38 AM »
Well thanks for the warm welcome Guys. Definitely much warmer  than my workshop which at the moment is hovering around the zero mark – roll on Spring.

I probably will post a few pics of my engines for those amongst you who may be interested.  Whilst I admit to being very proud of my achievements in building little engines the whole thing is relative. My engines will never win prizes in competitions or grace the cover of Model Engineer magazine but to me they represent the acquisition of skills I have always envied in other people. The sheer joy of making each component, fitting them together and seeing the end result spring to life to me is unsurpassable.  My biggest problem was learning to slow down and take my time. Not being too disheartened when something I’ve been working on for hours goes in the scrap bin.

The thing I like is that our hobby that can be enjoyed at any level of competence.  The free availability of advice, ideas and inspiration from genuine enthusiasts keeps our interest alive – I just wished I had started years ago.

Hey ! Have I landed on a site that has model railway enthusiasts ?  I have just set up a short branch line on a shelf in my workshop with an automatic shuttle control so my only loco trundles back and forth while I work away - it all looks a bit spartan and needs some more interest adding but I am not sure where to go next.

Anyway, a Healthy and Happy New Year to you all.

JohnS
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Offline Darren

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2008, 05:56:58 AM »

Hey ! Have I landed on a site that has model railway enthusiasts ?  I have just set up a short branch line on a shelf in my workshop with an automatic shuttle control so my only loco trundles back and forth while I work away -



Well lets see it then  :D

Welcome btw, there's a lot more to be learned here than one first realises, simple pic's inc.

Have fun  :)
You will find it a distinct help… if you know and look as if you know what you are doing. (IRS training manual)

Offline John-Som

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2008, 08:54:24 AM »
You asked to see it Darren so here's my lone loco - not much else to show 'cept a long shelf ! It would be good to add a little more interest to it - more from an operational point of view than just adding scenery which would soon suffer from workshop fall out. Any ideas for further development would be most welcome.

JohnS
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Offline Bernd

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2008, 09:34:37 AM »
John,

My first hobby is model railroading, then comes live steam, and then comes........ :) you get the point.

I've also started a model railroad in my basememnt across the aisle from the machine shop.  :clap:

It's a bit further along than the pictures show, but not much. Still in the process for trying to finish building the house.

Here's a direct link to the "Otter Creek Falls Railroad Company"  http://www.frontiernet.net/~thecat/On30.htm

The scale is "O" and the gauge is 30", On30 or On2 1/2. Bascially it's O scale running on HO gauge track.

To many hobbies and not enough time to do them all.    :)

BTW that is my model railroad site. It's quite outdated when it comes to what I want out model railroading. I leave it up because it's free from my ISP provider. Never know might have to move my regular web site over there someday.

Now about that scale of your engine, :med:  it looks to be HO or OO.  :scratch: So which is it?


Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline Divided he ad

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2008, 09:14:11 PM »
Hi John  :wave:


Glad you took the plunge... You should like it here... Everyone is nice, and helpfull.

You do realise with your tallents you will be having to answer questions.... You've got some major mechanical experience to share.... You've made some awesome engines so you have to be classed well out of newbie now...

What's the next stage called? Cause I think your well on your way through that from the work I've seen!!!


Good to see you here,  :thumbup:


Ralph.





I know what I know and need to know more!!!

Offline John-Som

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2009, 02:38:17 PM »
In my original introduction I did say I would post a pic of model steam locos I built for my live steam garden railway.  I built an engine for each of my grandsons to run on a permanent outdoor 32mm gauge track of  aprox 80’ in length. The winding track ran amongst the flower beds and over a pond in the garden of my previous house.



‘George’ (blue) was built eight years ago, ‘William’ (red) eleven years ago and ‘James’ (green) eighteen years ago. ‘George’ and ‘William’ are butane fired whilst ‘James’ has a spirit burner. All feature forward and reverse Walschaerts type valve gear and are radio controlled. The engines were built from superb kits supplied by Roundhouse Engineering located in Doncaster (UK).

http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/

The engines will be passed on one day to each of my grandchildren as I feel they are likely to appreciate them more when they are a little older.

John S
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Offline Bernd

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2009, 02:54:48 PM »
Nice John.

What scale is that. 32mm gauge track would be close to half of 45mm which would be "G" scale or the LGB.

Care to straighten me out? (My wife has tried and failed :lol:)

Bernd
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Offline John-Som

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2009, 03:31:15 PM »
Hello Bernd

If you take a look on the Roundhouse site http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/ there is a section under 'Technical' that explains the different scales far better than I can. Anyway if your wife can't straighten you out I doubt if I could.

John S
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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2009, 03:32:25 PM »
Those are pretty nice looking. How long did it take to build one?

Eric
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Offline sbwhart

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2009, 05:16:44 PM »
Great Engines John

The paint work looks very well done  :thumbup:, I realy strugle to get good paintwork  :scratch:, I don't seem to have the patience for it.

Have
 :wave:
Fun

Stew

A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Bernd

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #15 on: January 06, 2009, 10:23:58 PM »
John,

I've been to that site a few times.

As far as the scale goes it gets quite muddied as to what is what in those larger scales. It really doesn't matter when it gets to the live steam part.

As long as your having fun that's all that counts. I was just cuorious that's all.

Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline John-Som

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Re: Hello Guys
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2009, 01:00:48 PM »
Eric

I reckon each engine took around 2 to 3 months working at a very leasurely pace (pre-retirement days !)  I bought the kits in three stages to spread the cost  - 1. the chassis, 2. the boiler and burner, 3. the bodywork. . The I added two channel radio control - throttle and forward/reverse. It's mainly a bolt together method of assembly, the bodywork requires folding and soldering. Timing of the valve gear is reasonably straightforward once you have a grasp of the principles. The quality of kits from Roundhouse Engineering is superb. Typically the engines run for 20 to 25 minutes on one filling.

Stew

For the paintwork I used automotive aerosol cans, primer followed by topcoat. If I were making them again I would also use an etching primer to get a good key onto the brass plate. The lining out was carried out using vynil film tapes. Etched nameplates were ordered from a specialist supplier.

thanks for your interest guys

John S
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